A Reaction that Speaks of Complexity

Washington, D.C.
“Secure the blessings of liberty”
Liberty is a key component to the American experience. It is something that many if not all of us hold dear to our hearts and recognize as a freedom that we all should have. However, being here, in this great nation’s capitol, has made me question what does it mean on an individual level, a group level, or an entire nation to have liberty? Better yet how does one judge the difference between possessing the right to liberty and the use of it?

One aspect that I will focus on for this blog is women’s right. :) According to a basic look at women’s’ suffrage we are free, and we (should) have all the same rights as a man does… Right? I am not so sure, especially after what I have seen and experienced in the past couple of days. In various places I have seen women fulfilling the roles of secretary, receptionist, and other similar level jobs. The most obvious question is why? Why are women playing the role of caretaker, still?! Especially in the capitol.

**Now before I continue on this train of thought let me just say that I am not trying to bash per say on America and the government. That is totally not the point I am trying to make. Instead I am simply pointing out what I think as some issues that could find better solutions and ways to fully enable equality.**

In Washington women were the most prevalent gender in office positions. Now I wonder a few things. First and foremost what does that say about the roles that we are playing in society. You can take it in two ways. One is that these roles of interns are highly competitive and the females are just kicking the guys butt. This view is empowering. Then though you have the compare/contrast view. Comparing the role that women play in the offices opposed to the ones that men play. In a hierarchical scale women would appear to play a lower level. We are filing papers while the guys (for the majority) are signing those same papers.

Next I consider what ever could be the explanation for this occurrence. Do women find these positions fulfilling and maximizing of their liberties? Are they/we taking advantage of what in paper is a free and equal system to its max. or are they settling for the free world that exists within speech. Settling sucks, I hope this is not the case. Not only because it disappoints me but because we would be disappointing the suffragists that fought so hard for equal liberties between the sexes and future generations of women.

Time for more clarification. The Preamble of the Constitution says, “secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves.” So in text it appears that American’s wish equal liberties for all people. But it is important to realize that all is no where within that statement. Instead groups of people have to fight years to achieve an amendment in the constitution to achieve in having their group become part of the greater but undefined “people”. This is true for African Americans, Native Americans, women, and more currently homosexuals. Then once this takes place it is said that the aforementioned group then has equal rights. This though does not always find truth in the actions of our fellow peoples. I am completely believe in the volume that actions speak as opposed to the words. Actions will always have greater strength for me than mere words.

The next day in Washington we were oh so lucky to have a tour of the capitol… Ugh so much to say on that. It will wait though because it is not relevant to this subject. Now I was still hoping for some sign that women were really on the same level as men in this important city. However I did not find that. We went into the House of Representatives Gallery. Exciting… Not. Annoying… Yes. It was almost completely filled with white, middle-older aged men. The diversity was barely existent. I think I could count the number of women on one hand, maybe two but that is pushing it. And the ethnic differences I know could be accounted for with one hand. It made me sad. This is a country that is founded on diversity within its citizens. However the ruling power does not properly reflect this at all. In fact it pretty much disregards it. You still have a similar make up of governmental officials that you would find 10, 50, or a 100 years ago.

Liberties exist in America. I know and believe this. I just have a hard time accepting that this is how little progress we have made. Due to this though it makes me even more motivated to be active with the position and opportunities that I hold.